Catwatch January 2020 V24 N1
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE FELINE HEALTH CENTER • CORNELL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE January 2020 - Vol. 24, No. 1 Expert information on medicine, behavior, and health in collaboration with a world leader in veterinary medicine THIS JUST IN Become an Illness Detective Link to Liver Cancer Older cats require you to be on the alert Virus is similar to lthough it may surprise you, cats are considered geriatric once they hepatitis B in people reach ten years of age, and many cats begin to show signs of age-related Adiseases around this time. Diseases such as chronic renal (kidney) report from the University of disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, dental disease, and Sydney, published in Viruses, cancer are more prevalent in the older feline population. A says that a virus in cats that was Early identification of these diseases results in more favorable outcomes, which is discovered last year is now believed to be why it’s so important to understand the health concerns that are commonly associated a significant factor in the development of with aging in cats. liver cancer in cats. The researchers found Older cats are physically different from younger cats. Their immune system is less the hepatitis B-like virus, called domestic able to fend off invaders, their skin is thinner and less elastic, and the function of a cat hepadnavirus (DCH), in certain types number of organ systems undergoes changes that make them prone to a variety of age- of hepatitis and liver cancer in cats. associated diseases. Domestic cat hepadnavirus infection Their claws may become overgrown and brittle, and changes to their skin and hair, appears to be common in companion combined with arthritis that can limit range of motion, can predispose them to hair cats, with the virus detected in 6.5 matting and skin infections. percent and 10.8 percent of pet cats in Arthritis can also make it more difficult for them to enter the litter box, climb Australia and Italy respectively. stairs, and gain access to higher perches. Since DCH is like hepatitis B, which You may notice increased urine production due to disease (e.g., kidney is a major global concern that can lead failure, diabetes mellitus, or hyperthyroidism). The increased soil and odor may to liver cancer and chronic hepatitis in prompt cats to eliminate in inappropriate areas. Many cats that do not mark their people, the researchers wanted to know territory with urine may begin to do so if a condition like hyperthyroidism develops. if this new virus does the same thing Your cat may show signs of hearing loss, and her eyes may become hazy. Several in cats, and they have found evidence diseases, especially high blood pressure, can irreversibly impair a cat’s ability to see. that it does. The hope is that this study While there are many diseases that can decrease an elderly cat’s appetite, dental could lead disease is a very common cause of this problem. Loss of sense of smell that can occur toward targeted with advancing age may also decrease appetite, causing you to find smelly foods to treatments and get his attention. You can also increase the aroma by warming the food up in the vaccines.n microwave (but not too hot!). https://sydney.edu. Never assume that a change in your older cat is due to “aging.” Contact your au/news-opinion/ veterinarian if your cat is acting unusual or shows any of these symptoms: news/2019/10/24/ X Greenish or yellowish discharge from the eyes and/or the nose cat-virus-may-be- X Diarrhea that lasts more than two days linked-to-feline- X Increased thirst and/or urination cancer.html X Vomiting that lasts for more than one day asmakar | iStock Photos | iStock asmakar X Inability to urinate or painful urination X INSIDE THIS ISSUE Increased respiratory rate/effort Coconut Meal for Pets ..................................2 X Blood in urine or stool X Changes in activity level Potential New Test for Urinary Tract X Hiding in unusual places Infections .................................................2 X Appetite changes Life Without Teeth .....................................3 X Unkempt appearance X Unsteady gait TNR and Unowned Cats .............................4 X Weakness/collapse A Change of Voice ......................................6 X Weight loss Finally, maintaining a The Ins and Outs of Catios ..........................7 schedule of twice-annual Endoscopy: What to Expect ........................8 well visits with your Photo | iStock mico_images Happening Now ........................................8 veterinarian is important for You and your old friend may be surprised by the new need assuring optimal health. n to clip nails. SHORT TAKES Coconut Meal for Pets The pet industry’s interest in novel EDITOR IN CHIEF Bruce G. Kornreich, DVM, ingredients continues to grow Ph.D., Dipl ACVIM ome cats love coconut, while others will think you’re a EXECUTIVE EDITOR “coconut” for offering it to them. But it’s showing up as Cynthia Foley an alternative to other starches (grains, tubers, legumes) S Photo | iStock Nur Ataturk TECHNICAL EDITOR in some pet foods, according to an article by Greg Aldrich, Ph.D., in Pet Industry News. The coconut trend may be spurred by coconut’s growing Debra M. Eldredge, DVM following in human foods. ADVISORY BOARD Coconut meal comes from the white coconut “meat” inside the husk after the James A. Flanders, DVM, Dipl ACVS, liquid (milk) is removed. It is usually dried and has a shelf life of around six months Associate Professor, Clinical Sciences in cool, dry storage. Currently, there are no standards for coconut meal as a dietary component for pets, which means things like protein and fat content can vary from Margaret C. McEntee, DVM, batch to batch. Dipl ACVIM, DACVR, Professor of Oncology So far, dietary studies addressing coconut products have been limited to pigs, which have different gastrointestinal tracts from dogs and cats. This lack of studies William H. Miller, Jr., VMD, Dipl ACVD, makes it difficult to characterize the potential risks and benefits of dietary coconut to Professor, Clinical Sciences cats, although there is no current evidence that it is toxic to felines. n http://www.petfoodindustry-digital.com/201910/index.php#/40 Pamela J. Perry, DVM, Ph.D. Lecturer, Clinical Sciences, ACVB Behavior Resident CatWatch is an independent Potential New Test for Urinary Tract Infections newsletter produced in collaboration with the Cornell College of Veterinary Product offers results in five minutes for faster treatment Medicine Feline Health Center esting for and treating urinary tract infections can be a challenge for veterinarians. First, an infection must be identified and then the ideal therapy Thas to be determined. For information on your cat’s health, visit Usually, a urine sample is sent to an outside laboratory for a “culture and the Cornell University College of Veterinary sensitivity,” which is a test to see if bacteria are present, and if so, which antibiotics Medicine, Cornell Feline Health Center would be best to treat the infection with. Urine culture results are usually available website at www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/. in one to three days. Many urinary tract bacteria already show resistance to various Send Ask Elizabeth questions antibiotics, making it difficult to determine the best treatment, although most and letters to the editor: CatWatch® veterinarians will make an early decision to get your cat started on a medication 535 Connecticut Ave. while awaiting the results of this test. Norwalk, CT 06854-1713 A company in England is working with veterinarians and specialists at the [email protected] University of Tennessee on a product called “U Treat,” reports vetsurgeon.org. Using a urine sample, this test can identify a urinary tract infection in five minutes. Subscriptions: $39 per year (U.S.) • $49 per year (Canada). For subscription and Subsequent testing can then identify which antibiotics can be best to treat the customer service information, visit infection. www.catwatchnewsletter.com/cs Bioluminescence techniques are used to remove host cell adenosine triphosphate or write to: CatWatch, P.O. Box 8535, (ATP), an energy-carrying molecule, and then to lyse (break open) bacterial cell walls Big Sandy, TX 75755-8535. 800-829-8893 to release bacterial ATP. The luminometer can then guide your veterinarian to the ideal antibiotic. CatWatch® (ISSN: 1095-9092) is published monthly for $39 per The susceptibility test (to determine the best antibiotic choice) takes about 45 year by Belvoir Media Group, LLC, minutes, so diagnosis and treatment can be carried out in about an hour. This is 535 Connecticut Ave., Norwalk, much faster than having to send a urine specimen out for culture and sensitivity CT 06854-1713. Robert Englander, Chairman and CEO; Timothy H. Cole, testing at a remote laboratory. Executive Vice President, Editorial Clinical testing of this system was performed on dogs and cats at the University Director; Philip L. Penny, Chief Operating Officer; of Tennessee and overseen by Dr. David Bemis, who earned his PhD at Cornell Greg King, Executive Vice President, Marketing Director; Ron Goldberg, Chief Financial Officer; University. The U Treat system was both highly specific and highly sensitive, meaning Tom Canfield, Vice President, Circulation. that there were few false positives and negative results. ©2020 Belvoir Media Group, LLC. Rapidly identifying an effective antibiotic Postmaster: Send address corrections to therapy reduces the likelihood of inducing CatWatch, P.O. Box 8535, Big Sandy, TX 75755-8535. bacterial resistance to antibiotics and provides Express written permission is required to faster relief to your pet. n reproduce, in any manner, the contents of this https://www.vetsurgeon.org/news/b/veterinary-news/ issue, either in full or in part. For more information: Permissions, CatWatch, 535 Connecticut Ave., archive/2019/09/30/new-test-for-uti-in-cats-and-dogs.aspx Norwalk, Connecticut 06854-1713.